Casey's House

By SANDRA DIMSDALE | THE LEDGER

Saturday

Sep 29, 2007 at 12:01 AMSep 29, 2007 at 9:59 AM

LAKELAND

Phil Sebring makes no bones about the fact that this house belongs to Casey, his precious yellow Lab. The 100-pound beauty happily leads visitors through the home's four bedrooms, four baths, two half-baths and pool area like a proud tour guide.

Sebring, who retired from Publix after 34 years and now stays busy investing in real estate, volunteering with the First Tee and playing "bad golf," built the nearly 6,000-square-foot house in Lone Palm about two years ago. When builder Duane McQuillen entered it in the Parade of Homes and asked Sebring what he'd like to name his house, Sebring didn't hesitate to suggest "The Dog's House."

The builder didn't think that was a very flattering name, however, so on the first morning of the Parade, the sign out front read "Casey's House."

"It was close enough," Sebring says with a smile.

The huge wooden front door opens to a stylish foyer and living room just beyond. And the Gator welcome mat lets visitors know right away that this is a house where people actually live. "I didn't want to build a mausoleum," Sebring says. "I wanted it to feel comfortable, homey."

The master bedroom and adjoining bath are large and comfortable, with traditional heavy wood furniture. The bedroom is large enough to accommodate a cozy sitting area as well as a massage table and treadmill.

But even in a house as roomy as this one, Sebring's closet is amazing. Larger than bedrooms in some homes, there's plenty of space for his fiancee, lawyer Hillarey McCall, to snag as much room as she wants.

At the other end of the first floor, the guest rooms, each with its own bath, are designated "his" and "hers" - for Sebring's grandson and granddaughter. His room has a statue of a pony in the corner; hers has a painting of a ballerina above the dresser.

Upstairs, a game room and home theater offer all sorts of fun options - and a haven for McCall's cats, Sugar and Spice, who apparently still aren't sure about Casey. On one side sit a billiards table and a poker table. The other side of the room has a number of stadium-seating leather chairs with built-in cup holders facing a movie screen that descends from the ceiling with the touch of a button. Sebring and McCall, a University of Florida alum, enjoy watching hockey and Gator games on the big screen when they can't be there in person, Sebring says.

Back downstairs, the center of the home is dominated by the kitchen and living room.

The kitchen was built for a serious cook, with Thermador stainless steel appliances and a large island with a third sink. It's perfect for Sebring, who enjoys cooking for a crowd. "I like to cook for people. I don't like to cook for one or two," he says.

His home has been the gathering spot for some fun times, such as Gator booster events and Derby Day parties. When the party grows too big, however, he calls in reinforcements. "When it gets to the 40 to 50 range, I holler 'ouch.'"

The gourmet kitchen's only incongruencies are the stuffed animals and Playskool firetruck on the lower shelves at the end of the kitchen cabinets - purely diversions aimed at his four grandchildren. "I thought if these were easy for them to reach, they wouldn't go for those," he says, indicating porcelain animal figurines in a niche in the living room.

In the living room, leather sofas and chairs trimmed in tweed and brocade face an impressive stone fireplace. The fireplace is flanked by built-in wooden bookshelves and has a plasma television built in above the mantel. "It might be a little too masculine," Sebring says of the décor. "But there was no significant other when I started building the house, so Casey was the only one I had to listen to."

Actually, he bought all of the furniture for the house and lanai in a quick trip to a furniture market in North Carolina. He and his decorator, Marisa Nelson, shopped for about 18 hours over two days and furnished the whole house.

"I'm one of those people who gets it done, and quickly. No wiggling around," he says.

He knows what he likes, and his passions are on display throughout the house. Copies of Links magazine occupy a place of honor on the coffee table, and framed prints from some of the nation's most storied courses - including Pinehurst, Augusta National and Pebble Beach, all of which he's played - hang throughout the house.

And beyond a wall of sliding glass doors that "disappear" to make the living room flow seamlessly into the lanai is Sebring's favorite "room."

As comfortable and beautiful as the house is, it's easy to see why Sebring - and Casey - spend most of their time outside. Soothing waterfalls edge the custom lagoon-style pool, which has a dark Pebble Tec finish that gives it a natural look. The lanai and the garden beyond the screened porch are lushly landscaped.

"I live out here," Sebring says. "I love it."

The living's easy on this porch, where comfortable, elegant wicker furniture and fluffy cushions surround a fire pit as well as the coffee table in a conversation nook and a dining table by the summer kitchen. Plasma TVs are mounted on the walls on either side of the kitchen/dining area so Sebring's guests don't have to miss a minute of the game while they're outside.

The summer kitchen is elaborately appointed with Alfresco appliances - a large grill, extra burners, refrigerator, ice maker, cooling and warming drawers and even sauce warmers. The tile, stone and granite countertops coordinate beautifully with those in the indoor kitchen.

[ This story previously appeared in the Summer 2007 Lakeland magazine. See more stories at www.thelakelandmagazine.com ]

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